Totó la Momposina, the celebrated Colombian folk singer who brought her country's vibrant musical traditions to an international audience, has died at the age of 85 after suffering a heart attack. Known for her colorful dresses and powerful voice, she became an icon of world music.
Early Life and Musical Roots
Born Sonia Bazanta Vides in Talaigua, a village along the Magdalena River in the Mompós region, she grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a shoemaker and drummer, while her mother was a singer and dancer. Encouraged by her parents, she began performing at age six and traveled across Colombia as a teenager to learn regional styles from the cantadoras—women who sang while working.
Rise to Fame
During La Violencia, her family moved to Bogotá, where her mother started a dance group. Sonia studied at the National University of Colombia and in 1967 formed her own group, Totó la Momposina y Sus Tambores. She revived unfashionable folk music, eventually becoming known as the 'queen of cumbia,' a genre blending African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences.
Her breakthrough came in 1993 with the album La Candela Viva on Peter Gabriel's Real World label. She toured globally, performing at festivals like Womad. She often said, 'A nation without music would be a people without identity.'
International Career
In 1974, she performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York. In 1979, fearing for her safety due to leftwing ties, she moved to Paris, where she busked to survive. She recorded her debut album there in 1981 and studied at the Sorbonne. In 1982, she performed in Stockholm when Gabriel García Márquez received the Nobel Prize.
Her first Womad appearance in the UK was in 1984. In 1991, she recorded at Real World Studios, with producer Phil Ramone creating hits like 'La Candela Viva.' Later albums included Carmelina (1996) and Pacanto (1999). In 2015, Real World released Tambolero for her 75th birthday, featuring her children and grandchildren.
Later Years and Legacy
She made her final UK appearance in 2018 and retired in 2022 due to Alzheimer's disease. Her songs have been sampled by Jay-Z, Timbaland, and others. She won two Latin Grammy awards and a lifetime achievement award in 2013. In 2016, she was made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.
She is survived by three children and nine grandchildren. Totó la Momposina's legacy endures as a pioneer who celebrated Colombian culture on the world stage.
